An Empty Room = Endless possiblities
When your first child heads off to college, their empty room could be a sad reminder that they have flown the coop or you can view it as an opportunity to create a new usable space!
There is a thoughtful way to turn their unused room into an enclave that is utilized for work, relaxation or both and still have it ready and waiting for when they return home for holidays or summer break.
The first step is to determine what is needed in your life now. Is it more space for work, room for yoga or meditation, or just a quiet place to read the Sunday paper or a coveted novel?
Next, look at your child's room and determine what needs to stay and what can be placed away out of sight. A bed and a nightstand are necessary kept pieces. If you have a big enough closet, determine if the dresser is needed.
Now, does the layout of the room need to change? Can the bed be moved to a different wall to optimize the space? With a mixture of standard size pillows and decorative smaller pillows, positioned against the wall or walls, the bed can be made into a daybed as in the project below that I created in a client's guest room.
For those yogis and meditators, open floor space and a comfortable rug is a must. My favorite rugs are the Tibetans that are so soft and cozy, laying on them is like hanging out with a big furry dog or wearing your favorite warm sweater on a cold winter day. Some of these rugs like the one below purchased for a client, are neutral enough that they work in traditional or contemporary settings.
Decorative pillows, made from vintage ethnic fabrics, can be added to the day bed or made into oversized floor pillows to get the meditation vibe going. Pillows and bedding are easy to put away when your child returns home.
Every room needs a good chair. Especially if this new space is to become your quiet reading escape. My current all time favorite, most comfortable chair is The Good Egg chair from CAI Designs Chicago. Who can resist this fuzzy envelope of comfort? This will quickly become your college student's favorite chair and they will thank you for re-doing their room.
Aside from good overhead and reading lights, mood lighting is important for yoga or meditation. Check out this mood setting, soothing lamp, another piece from CAI Designs Chicago. Your child will also appreciate this glowing night light which will lull them to sleep, much needed after being away at school.
Installing functional and neutral window coverings is your next move. I love the wide range of colors and textures of Hartmann & Forbes shades. The Roman shades can be fabricated with a blackout liner for darkness, promoting deep sleeping. During the day, this liner is raised and the light filters through the beautiful textured shade.
The final touches are paint and artwork. I know that Simply White (OC-117) is Benjamin Moore's color of 2016 but I really love using white as the backdrop of a room. It is soothing and clean and requires no mental effort. Also, it pairs well with other whites and all colors in general.
Artwork is a personal preference. If your child has cool art, like my son's band posters, then keep them. As long as they are framed and arranged nicely, your child will appreciate the familiarity when they return home and if you have the same taste in music, you will enjoy them too.
This next phase in life is exciting. New experiences and vistas for your son and a new room for you. Let me know if I can help you create your new space.
If only the view from my new room was this!
